Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

I wish I could do a really small first birthday, but my immediate family is close to 30! We are having a smallish party at the house (32) and then a separate baby party (I'm guessing around 21 + 14 babies). So together it adds up to a big party I know he isn't going to remember it, but he will have the pictures to look at when he is older!

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

I had a small 1st bday. Just immediate family and it was really nice. We went to dinner at a restaurant. It was so nice and simple. No stress or issues. Just got dressed up and enjoyed ourselves. Originally I wanted a big party, but then after the Christening I decided I didn't want to go through that again.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We had DS's 1st birthday party at our house with friends and family. We had about 40 people and it was a lot of work. I work FT so I couldn't go all out and organize multiple vendors, etc. not to mention spend the $. I wish I could have. But it turned out fine!

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We didn't have a big first bday for our oldest. We planned too but then was told he was going to need surgery and it was scheduled the day after is birthday. So we decided to keep it low key. We had it at my moms house, indoors since it was the end of Nov. It was nice, we had fun.

I plan on doing the same for my youngest DS when he turns 1. It will be in June so we are planning on doing a small BBQ at the park.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

Me! I had a small baptism, maybe 30 people at the park for a bbq after the baptism.

I would do the same if his birthday was not during the winter, but since I can't it will be close friends and family, cake and dinner.

Money is very tight right now, and even if it weren't I had not heard of huge 1st birthday parties until LIF. It is just not part of my social or family circle.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We only had 26 adults and 8 or so kids, kept it to immediate family and a few friends who have kids. It was a perfect amount of people. I just went crazy planning with decorations and details but that's just how I am, I can't help it!

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

DD#1 turned one on Oct 6th. We had a big backyard party for family and very close friends. It was about 60 people. DD#2 was born Dec 18th. Money is on the tighter side this year and since she is a winter baby, we've decided that we are not going to do a big party. I kind of feel bad since we did a bigger one for DD#1, but like a PP mentioned, DD will NEVER remember it, and it's more for the parents than it is for the child at that age. I will still have immediate family over and will probably have a catered lunch (since I suck at cooking and don't have the time.) I will still do a fabulous cake and will have a theme- just on a lot smaller scale.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

For DD#1 we just had about 15 people - a handful of relatives (grandparents, great grandparents and my aunt and uncle who were in town from out of state). Then we invited one friend with a baby and a couple of other couples - so very small. We did a bbq. It was perfect - 1st bday is more for the parents than the child - but you can do it so the birthday child still has fun too.

DD#2 we had to cancel the party b.c it was right after we returned from WDW and the girls brought home a little souvenier (a stomach bug) - and since I had elderly people coming I didn't want to expose them. It got complicated b.c the following weeks were very busy with birthdays, father's day etc- so we split it up and did 2 smaller parties - one with just family about 10 people at my parents club for one of their bbqs there (they had kid's activities there). Then we did a small bbq at our home and only invited friends. I personally prefer smaller parties - esp at that age - you can visit more with your guests and they all get to play and see the birthday child and spend some time with the birthday child.

I think for a 1st you should do what you want to do - if you want to go big go for it - if you want a small one - that is great too - the birthday child will have photos but won't remember the party so it is more for the parents anyway.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We did not have a big first birthday party.

In total, including me, DH & DS, we had 10 adults and 6 children (with the oldest child being 14). We had a small backyard party. Not even BBQ, b/c that requires someone to stand at the grill all day.

We ordered a 4 ft hero, potato & macaroni salad. We got the cake and shrimp platters from Costco. Balloons & birthday plates from Party City.

We made spinach dip, veggie platter, sangria & cupcakes. We served beer, soda, water, juice and of course the sangria.

I had goodie bags for the kids. My sister brought her bouncy house for the younger ones. DS LOVED it!!

All said and done, we spent less than $500. That includes groceries for the stuff we made.


I feel no guilt what-so-ever about not having a big party for DS.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

Posted by CrankyPants

Posted by StayForever

We did not have a big first birthday party.

In total, including me, DH & DS, we had 10 adults and 6 children (with the oldest child being 14). We had a small backyard party. Not even BBQ, b/c that requires someone to stand at the grill all day.

We ordered a 4 ft hero, potato & macaroni salad. We got the cake and shrimp platters from Costco. Balloons & birthday plates from Party City.

We made spinach dip, veggie platter, sangria & cupcakes. We served beer, soda, water, juice and of course the sangria.

I had goodie bags for the kids. My sister brought her bouncy house for the younger ones. DS LOVED it!!

All said and done, we spent less than $500. That includes groceries for the stuff we made.


I feel no guilt what-so-ever about not having a big party for DS.

That is way more than I did for my kids 1st When I say no big party-I mean just cake and a few docorations from party city.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We are just having our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews to our house for DS's first birthday - but that is about 30 people. I have no interest in doing a big party. We also had a big Christening.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

Posted by Shelleybean11

I wish I could do a really small first birthday, but my immediate family is close to 30! We are having a smallish party at the house (32) and then a separate baby party (I'm guessing around 21 + 14 babies). So together it adds up to a big party I know he isn't going to remember it, but he will have the pictures to look at when he is older!

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We're not...we're just having our 2 brothers, my parents & my aunt & uncle over (11 people total incl. us & the baby) for pizza and coffee/cake after work next Friday. We'll be on a cruise on his actual birthday w/both sets of grandparents so we'll have dessert & take some pics there too!

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

I am going to do a bigger first birthday but I did a tiny baby naming. I can't spend money on everything! If money is tight, don't do it. He won't remember it and it is not worth the stress IMO

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We didn't. We had a bbq in DH's Mom's backyard. Probably only about 20 people there. It was nice.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

we are having just close family and a few friends which end up being 25 adults and 10 kids. We are just ordering some food and doing lunch and cake. She is mid November.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We had about 32 adults and just 4 kids. It was mostly family and a few close friends.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

Me!

It's tough - DH and I are both only children but have large extended families so it gets big really quickly!

I think I'm going to do something small on my side and something small on DH's side - but, I might combine the two into one. W're going to be renovating our house though so it's going to be at someone else's house if we do anything.

I was so stressed with Christening planning - I"m not ready to go through it again!

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We aren't doing a big 1st birthday party. We had a big Christening party at my parents house. Over 100 people. 1st bday party will be only families with children. I'm not inviting anyone without a child. We are doing the party at Chuck E Cheese. It will be a week before we leave for a cruise so we definitely won't have $$ to splurge on a big bday party.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We had about 25 family members at our house for DD's 1st birthday and it worked out really well. I figure as she gets older, there will be plenty of times for the expensive parties.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

I have some time on this but I don't plan to.
I'm just not a huge fan of parties.
I HATE throwing parties.
I have no time or patience for them.
And she wont' even remember this.
I'll probably have some family over for cake and whatnot.
Just not my thing...

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

We had a small christening and are having a small(ish) 1st birthday - about 40 people at the house next weekend.

Re: Is anyone NOT doing a big first birthday?

At this point I think I'm going to keep it small(these replies made me feel better so ty!) Immediate fam only and I will still do some cute things to make "myself" feel better about the whole situation (cupcakes,nice cake, few decorations ect ect).

With my fam and friends (aside from immediate fam of like 15)..it's all or nothing. All of our friends have children and most of them have atlreast 3,my husband has like 100 first cousins that he is pretty close too all with kids. I also have many friends with kids and without that I would want there. Therefore...with that said it is bound toturn into a very big party, and I just am not up for it right now!

My only regret is that I wish I had more kids in my immediate fam,I only have my nephew who is already 9!

Now..it's all about convincing my DH!

Message edited 8/27/2010 8:34:10 PM.